Many older people need tetanus boosterIf you're an older...

HEALTH & FITNESS - NOTEBOOK

September 5, 1995

Many older people need tetanus booster

If you're an older person, the odds are that you aren't protected against tetanus.

Testing patients in a comprehensive care geriatric center, doctors found that 65 of 129 elders didn't have protective levels of tetanus antibodies in their blood. All of the 20 younger people who were tested did have protective levels.

Tetanus shots generally are given only to younger people, but periodic boosters are needed to sustain adequate antibody blood levels. Not many people die of tetanus - about 50 a year in the United States, but half those deaths occur in people over 65.

An older person should either inquire about getting a tetanus shot or be sure to see a doctor quickly if he or she encounters something that can cause tetanus, such as a rusty nail; fast treatment can prevent serious trouble.

Brochure offers advice on children's allergies

More than 3.8 million children in the United States have nasal allergies, which leads to 28 million lost school days each year. Research also has shown that the ailment can make children inattentive in school, which can lead to poor classroom performance.

A free brochure is offered by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to help parents reduce the effects of allergies on their children. The brochure, ''Sniffles and Sneezes: A Parent's Guide to Managing Kids' Allergies,'' is available by calling 1-800-727-8462.

Slower steps make most of stair-climber workout

Next time you hit the stair climber, make sure you're losing the most ounces per bounce. Researchers at the Illinois State University Wellness Program found that taking slower, deeper steps on stair climbers increases your heart rate, as well as improves your body's flow of blood and oxygen, Men's Health magazine reports.

Panel: Supplements no substitute for good food

A government panel recommends against routinely using supplements instead of food to get vitamins, mineral and fiber.

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee also put greater stress on the importance of combining healthy eating with exercise to control weight.

The committee's basic message remains the same as it was five years ago: Eat a variety of foods, including lots of fruits, vegetables and grains; go easy on alcohol, cholesterol, fats, salt and sweets; watch your weight.

What's more important: Work or leisure time?

Do we need leisure time for our mental health? Americans are almost evenly split over which is more important - work or leisure time - says the polling firm Roper Starch. In a survey, Roper Starch found that 39 percent of Americans believe work is more important, while 37 percent said leisure was. Another 20 percent said both are about equal in importance, while 4 percent said they didn't know which was more important.

Steam rooms, saunas can harbor infections

A steam bath can be relaxing, but there can be some negatives. The bath can be a possible breeding ground for various infection-producing microbes, and the water thrown on hot sauna rocks can also be contaminated.

Extreme heat of any sort is generally not advised for pregnant women; people with heart disease, high or very low blood pressure or epilepsy; and those taking medications like tranquilizers, antibiotics, stimulants, narcotics or drugs affecting blood or blood pressure.

A steam room may be more beneficial in acting as a giant vaporizer for someone with respiratory congestion.

Male nongraduates are likely to smoke

Nearly all white men with less than a high school education are smokers or former smokers, researchers at Stanford University say.

The study, which included more than 2,100 white and Hispanic men and women, found that 93 percent of white men of low educational attainment were smokers or had been, and 73 percent of white women who weren't high school graduates smoked or had been smokers.

In contrast, among Hispanics who hadn't finished high school, 71 percent of the men and 39 percent of the women were daily smokers or former smokers.